Air flow generator concentrator

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of an air flow generator outlet concentrator are described. The air flow generator outlet concentrator may change the direction or pressure/velocity of air exiting an air flow generator, such has a hair dryer. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments described herein relate AFG outlet concentrators forAFGs outlets.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

It may be desirable to modify the air flow at the outlet of an air flowgenerator such as a hair dryer including direction or pressure, thepresent invention provides an AFG outlet concentrator for same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an isometric diagram of an air flow generator (AFG) outletconcentrator according to various embodiments.

FIG. 1B is a rear view of an AFG outlet concentrator according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 1C is a right-side view of an AFG outlet concentrator according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 1D is a top side view of an AFG outlet concentrator according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 1E is a bottom side view of an AFG outlet concentrator according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 1F is a front side view of an AFG outlet concentrator according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 1G is an isometric right-side cross-sectional view along line A-Aas shown in FIG. 1D of an AFG outlet concentrator according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 1H is an isometric front cross-sectional view along line B-B asshown in FIG. 1D of an AFG outlet concentrator according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a simplified drawing of an AFG outlet concentrator coupled toan AFG outlet according to various embodiments.

FIG. 3A is an isometric diagram of another AFG outlet concentratoraccording to various embodiments.

FIG. 3B is a right-side cross-sectional view of the AFG outletconcentrator shown in FIG. 3A according to various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As noted, it may be desirable to modify the air flow of an AFG (30 ofFIG. 2) including direction or pressure/velocity of the air flow at theAFG outlet 32 via an AFG outlet concentrator (10, 10A of FIGS. 1A-H, 2,and 3A-B). As shown in FIGS. 1A-H, 2, and 3A-B, an AFG outletconcentrator 10, 10A according to various embodiments may redirect thepathway of air generated by a AFG 30 at its outlet 32 about 90 degrees.An AFG outlet concentrator 10, 10A according to various embodiments mayalso change the pressure/velocity of air generated by an AFG 30 at itsoutlet 32 by coupling the AFG outlet concentrator 10, 10A exit end 18 atthe outlet 32.

In an embodiment, the AFG outlet concentrator 10, 10A exit end 18 mayhave an outer diameter or envelope smaller than the AFG outlet's innerdiameter or envelope to enable the AFG outlet concentrator 10, 10A to besecurely and removably fit therein. In an embodiment, the AFG outletconcentrator 10, 10A exit end 18 may have an outer diameter or envelopegreater than the AFG outlet's outer diameter or envelope to enable theAFG outlet concentrator 10, 10A to be securely and removably fitthereover. In an embodiment, the AFG 30 may be a hair dryer.

The AFG outlet concentrator 10, 10A according to various embodiments mayinclude an AFG outlet interface 12, a distal cylindrical section 14, afirst curved reduction section 16, and a second, final reduced volumemodified cross-sectional shape section 17 leading to a proximal exit end18 having a different cross-sectional shape and area than the AFG outletconcentrator's 10, 10A AFG outlet interface 12.

The AFG outlet concentrator 10, 10A sections 12, 14, 16, 17, and 18shapes and cross-sectional area(s) may be selected to gradually reduceair flow area, shape, and air flow direction from an AFG outletcross-sectional area, shape, and air flow direction to a desired shape,cross-sectional area, and air flow direction (relative the AFG outletair flow direction) 18. The AFG outlet concentrator 10, 10A sections 14,16, 17 shape and cross-sectional area(s) may be selected to graduallychange the flow direction and concentration of air exiting a AFG 30outlet 32 to a desired direction and concentration.

In an embodiment, an AFG outlet concentrator 10 may both change thedirection and reduce the cross-sectional area of the air flow producedat a AFG 30 outlet 32 via its sections 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 shapes andcross-sectional area(s). In an embodiment, an AFG outlet concentrator10, 10A may reduce the air flow cross-sectional area of the AFG 30outlet 32 from about 40 to 70% and about 66% in an embodiment. Further,an AFG outlet concentrator 10, 10A may change the air flow direction ofthe AFG 30 outlet 32 about 30 to 120 degrees and about 90 degrees in anembodiment.

FIG. 1A is an isometric diagram of an AFG outlet concentrator 10according to various embodiments. As shown in FIG. 1A, the AFG outletconcentrator 10 may include an AFG outlet interface distal end (inletfor concentrator) 12, a first transition area 14, a second transitionarea 16, a third transition area 17, and a proximal air exit (outlet forconcentrator) 18 in form of a flanged or elliptically shaped outlet 18in an embodiment. In an embodiment, the AFG outlet concentrator 10transition areas 12, 14, 16, 17, and 18 may be sized and shaped togradually reduce the cross-sectional area and change the direction ofair flow received at its inlet 12. Such a configuration may be requiredor necessary to prevent potential damage to an AFG 30 due to an abruptchange in pressure/velocity of air flow at its outlet 32.

In an embodiment, the air produced the outlet 32 of an AFG 30 may beelevated relative ambient air temperature and may be about 100 to 140degrees Fahrenheit. In an embodiment, an AFG outlet concentrator 10, 10Amay be formed of various heat resistant materials including polymers,ceramics, or certain metal alloys based on the air temperatures it mayprocess. FIG. 1B is a rear view and FIG. 1F is a front side view of anAFG outlet concentrator 10 according to various embodiments. As shown inFIG. 1B, the distal air inlet 12 forming the AFG outlet interface 10 maybe circular in an embodiment.

The AFG outlet concentrator 10 interface 12 may have various shapes andsizes as a function of the AFG 30 outlet's 32 corresponding shape andsize. In an embodiment, the AFG outlet concentrator 10 interface 12 mayhave an internal diameter CC forming an internal circumference rangingfrom 40 to 200 mm or about 120 mm where a corresponding AFG 30 outlet 32outer circumference may be slightly less (1 to 3 mm) than the AFG outletconcentrator 10 interface 12 internal circumference so the AFG outletconcentrator 10 may be securely couplable to and removable to a AFGoutlet 10 via friction. In addition, the AFG outlet concentrator 10interface 12 material(s) may be selected to frictionally couple to thematerial(s) of the AFG outlet 10.

FIGS. 1B and 1F also show the size and shape of the third transitionarea 17 relative to the initial area formed by the outlet interface 12.As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1F, the third transition area 17 may bepartially triangular in cross section. FIG. 1C is a right-side view ofan AFG outlet concentrator 10 according to various embodiments. FIG. 1Cshows the AFG outlet concentrator 10 transition areas 12, 14, 16, 17,and 18. In an embodiment, the overall AFG outlet concentrator 10 lengthEE may extend about 90 to 150 mm and be about 120 mm in an embodiment.It is noted that all dimensions may vary linearly relative to thedistal-outlet interface 12 internal circumference in an embodiment.Accordingly, the overall AFG outlet concentrator 10 length EE may be apercentage of the distal-outlet interface 12 internal circumference(IC), about 70 to 150 percent and about 100% of the distal-outletinterface 12 IC in an embodiment.

In an embodiment, the first transition area 14 length DD may extendabout 10 to 50 mm and about 32 mm in an embodiment. The first transitionarea 14 length DD may be about 10 to 50 percent of the distal-outletinterface 12 IC and about 25% of the distal-outlet interface 12 IC in anembodiment. In an embodiment, the AFG outlet concentrator 10 may have asubstantially uniform wall thickness except at an area near thedistal-outlet interface 12 where the wall thickness may be greater for alength II adjacent the outlet interface 12 distal end. In an embodiment,the wall thickness may be about 0.5 to 3 mm as a function of the AFGoutlet concentrator 10 materials. The wall thickness at the outletinterface 12 distal end may be about 50 to 200% greater than the AFGoutlet concentrator 10 thickness otherwise and about 100% greater in anembodiment. The increased wall thickness length II at the distal-outletend 12 may be about 5 to 20 mm and about 10 mm in an embodiment. Theincreased wall thickness length II at the distal end 12 may be about 5to 20 percent of the distal-outlet interface 12 IC and about 8% of thedistal-outlet interface 12 IC in an embodiment.

In an embodiment, the height FF of the AFG outlet concentrator 10 afterthe first transition area 14 and at the start of the second transitionarea 16 may be about 40 to 90 mm and about 60 mm in an embodiment. TheAFG outlet concentrator 10 height FF may be about 33 to 75 percent ofthe distal-outlet interface 12 IC and about 50% of the distal-outletinterface 12 IC in an embodiment. In an embodiment, the height GG of theAFG outlet concentrator 10 at about the midpoint of the secondtransition area 16 may be about 36 to 86 mm and about 56 mm in anembodiment. The AFG outlet concentrator 10 height or width GG may beabout 30 to 71 percent of the distal-outlet interface 12 IC and about47% of the distal-outlet interface 12 IC in an embodiment. In anembodiment, the height HH of the AFG outlet concentrator 10 at about themidpoint of the third transition area 17 may be about 25 to 75 mm andabout 45 mm in an embodiment. The AFG outlet concentrator 10 height orwidth HH may be about 21 to 63 percent of the distal-outlet interface 12IC and about 37.5% of the distal-outlet interface 12 IC in anembodiment.

FIG. 1D is a top side view and FIG. 1E is a bottom side view of an AFGoutlet concentrator 10 according to various embodiments. As shown inFIGS. 1D and 1E, the AFG outlet concentrator 10 width may graduallydecrease along the second and third transition areas 16, 17, forming atriangular shape in width when viewed from the top side. FIG. 1E is abottom side view of an AFG outlet concentrator 10 according to variousembodiments. As shown in FIG. 1E, the AFG outlet concentrator 10proximal air exit-outlet 18 may be rectangular with rounded edges,race-track shaped, or elliptical in an embodiment. The proximal air exit18 length JJ may be about 40 to 88 mm and about 64 mm in an embodiment.The proximal air exit 18 length JJ may be about 33 to 73 percent of thedistal-outlet interface 12 IC and about 53% of the distal-outletinterface 12 IC in an embodiment. The proximal air exit 18 width KK maybe about 4 to 10 mm and about 6 mm in an embodiment. The proximal airexit 18 width KK may be about 3.3 to 8.3 percent of the distal-outletinterface 12 IC and about 5% of the distal-outlet interface 12 IC in anembodiment. As noted the proximal air exit 18 area may be less than thedistal-outlet interface air entrance 12 area and about 25 to 75 percentof the distal-outlet interface 12 area and about 33 percent in anembodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the third transition area 17 may be arcuate with anapproximately fixed diameter from the corner 11 until the start of thesecond transition area 16. The third transition area 17 fixed diametermay be about 40 to 88 mm and about 64 mm in an embodiment. The thirdtransition area 17 fixed diameter may be about 33 to 73 percent of thedistal-outlet interface 12 IC and about 53% of the distal-outletinterface 12 IC in an embodiment. Similarly, the second transition area16 may also be arcuate with an approximately fixed diameter from thecorner 11 between the third extension area 17 and the first transitionarea 14. The second transition area 16 fixed diameter may be about 30 to78 mm and about 54 mm in an embodiment. The second transition area 16fixed diameter may be about 25 to 65 percent of the distal-outletinterface 12 IC and about 45% of the distal-outlet interface 12 IC in anembodiment.

FIG. 1G is a right-side cross-sectional view along line A-A as shown inFIG. 1D and FIG. 1H is an isometric front cross-sectional view alongline B-B as shown in FIG. 1D of an AFG outlet concentrator 10 accordingto various embodiments. As shown in FIG. 1G and 1H, the transition areas14, 16, and 17 may all have arcuate side walls along their height. FIG.2 is a simplified drawing of an AFG outlet concentrator 10 coupled to aAFG 30 according to various embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 2, a AFC 30 may be an electric based hair dryer 32 witha handle/controller 36, an electrical energy interface (cable withmating plug) 38, an internal motor 34, and an air exit nozzle or outlet32. As noted in an embodiment the AFG outlet concentrator 10 interface12 may be sized and shaped to securely couple over the hair dryer 30 airexit nozzle 32. As further noted an AFG outlet concentrator 10 accordingto an embodiment may change the air flow pressure/velocity and directionwhile not placing undue and unacceptable stress on the hair dryer 30motor 34. The shape and size of the transition regions 14, 16, 17 mayreduce the hair dryer 30 motor 34 stress while enabling a user to modifythe air flow direction and pressure/velocity (by reducing air flowcross-sectional area at its exit 18).

FIG. 3A is an isometric diagram of another AFG outlet concentrator 10Aaccording to various embodiments. FIG. 3B is a right-sidecross-sectional view of the AFG outlet concentrator 10A according tovarious embodiments. As shown in FIG. 3A, the AFG outlet concentrator10A is similar to the AFG outlet concentrator 10. The AFG outletconcentrator 10A includes a first transition area 14A, a secondtransition area 16A, a third transition area 17A, and an exit nozzle oroutlet 18A. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the AFG outlet concentrator 10Amay include one or more curved internal fins extending from a portion ofthe second transition area 16A to about the distal air exit end 18A.There may be four fins in an embodiment that are evenly spaced to formfour similarly sized vents in the outlet 18A as shown in the figures.

The accompanying drawings that form a part hereof show, by way ofillustration and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which thesubject matter may be practiced. The embodiments illustrated aredescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the teachings disclosed herein. Other embodiments may beutilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logicalsubstitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scopeof this disclosure. This Detailed Description, therefore, is not to betaken in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments isdefined only by the appended claims, along with the full range ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein individually or collectively by the term “invention” merely forconvenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of thisapplication to any single invention or inventive concept, if more thanone is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have beenillustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achievethe same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown.This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations orvariations of various embodiments. Combinations of the aboveembodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein,will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the abovedescription.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In the foregoing Detailed Description,various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for thepurpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is notto be interpreted to require more features than are expressly recited ineach claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may be found in less thanall features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claimsare hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separate embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. An air flow generator (AFG) outlet concentrator,including: an AFG outlet interface having a first cross-sectional areaand one of an inner envelope or outer envelope and securely andremovably couplable to a hand-held AFG outlet, the AFG outlet having aprimary air flow direction and one of a second cross-sectional area lessthan the first cross-sectional area and an outer envelope smaller thanthe interface inner envelope and a second cross-sectional area greaterthan the first cross-sectional area and an inner envelope greater thanthe interface outer envelope; a distal outlet, the outlet havingsubstantially rectangular shape with its long side substantiallyparallel to AFG outlet primary air flow direction; and at least onetransition area between the AFG outlet inlet and the distal outlet, thetransition area reducing the first cross-sectional area by at least 40%and changing the direction of primary air flow by at least 30 degrees atthe distal outlet.
 2. The AFG outlet concentrator of claim 1, whereinthe AFG is an electric hair dryer.
 3. The AFG outlet concentrator ofclaim 1, wherein the AFG outlet interface has an inner envelope and issecurely and removably couplable to a hand-held AFG outlet secondcross-sectional area less than the first cross-sectional area and anouter envelope smaller than the interface inner envelope.
 4. The AFGoutlet concentrator of claim 3, wherein the AFG outlet outer envelope issubstantially circular and the AFG outlet interface inner envelope issubstantially circular.
 5. The AFG outlet concentrator of claim 4,wherein the AFG outlet concentrator overall length is at least 70% ofthe circumference of the AFG outlet interface inner envelope.
 6. The AFGoutlet concentrator of claim 4, wherein the distal outlet long sidelength is at least 33% of the circumference of the AFG outlet interfaceinner envelope.
 7. The AFG outlet concentrator of claim 6, wherein thedistal outlet short side length is less than 8.3% of the circumferenceof the AFG outlet interface inner envelope.
 8. The AFG outletconcentrator of claim 4, wherein the distal outlet long side length isabout 50% of the circumference of the AFG outlet interface innerenvelope.
 9. The AFG outlet concentrator of claim 8, wherein the distaloutlet short side length is about 5% of the circumference of the AFGoutlet interface inner envelope.
 10. The AFG outlet concentrator ofclaim 9, wherein the transition area reduces the first cross-sectionalarea by at least 66% and changes the direction of primary air flow by atabout 90 degrees at the distal outlet.
 11. An air flow generator (AFG)outlet concentrator, including: an AFG outlet interface having a firstcross-sectional area and one of an inner envelope or outer envelope andsecurely and removably couplable to a hand-held AFG outlet, the AFGoutlet having a primary air flow direction and one of a secondcross-sectional area less than the first cross-sectional area and anouter envelope smaller than the interface inner envelope and a secondcross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area and aninner envelope greater than the interface outer envelope; a distaloutlet, the outlet having substantially rectangular shape with its longside substantially parallel to AFG outlet primary air flow direction;and a plurality of transition areas between the AFG outlet inlet and thedistal outlet, the combination of the plurality of transition areasreducing the first cross-sectional area by at least 40% and changing thedirection of primary air flow by at least 30 degrees at the distaloutlet.
 12. The AFG outlet concentrator of claim 11, wherein the AFG isan electric hair dryer.
 13. The AFG outlet concentrator of claim 11,wherein the AFG outlet interface has an inner envelope and is securelyand removably couplable to a hand-held AFG outlet second cross-sectionalarea less than the first cross-sectional area and an outer envelopesmaller than the interface inner envelope.
 14. The AFG outletconcentrator of claim 13, wherein the AFG outlet outer envelope issubstantially circular and the AFG outlet interface inner envelope issubstantially circular.
 15. The AFG outlet concentrator of claim 14,wherein the AFG outlet concentrator overall length is at least 70% ofthe circumference of the AFG outlet interface inner envelope.
 16. TheAFG outlet concentrator of claim 14, wherein the distal outlet long sidelength is at least 33% of the circumference of the AFG outlet interfaceinner envelope.
 17. The AFG outlet concentrator of claim 16, wherein thedistal outlet short side length is less than 8.3% of the circumferenceof the AFG outlet interface inner envelope.
 18. The AFG outletconcentrator of claim 14, wherein the distal outlet long side length isabout 50% of the circumference of the AFG outlet interface innerenvelope.
 19. The AFG outlet concentrator of claim 18, wherein thedistal outlet short side length is about 5% of the circumference of theAFG outlet interface inner envelope.
 20. The AFG outlet concentrator ofclaim 19, wherein the combination of the plurality of transition areasreduces the first cross-sectional area by at least 66% and changes thedirection of primary air flow by at about 90 degrees at the distaloutlet.